Monica and her team create clean delicious food that will wow any diner! These family recipes make healthy eating enjoyable! My new favorite dish is the pIcked Korean radishes! Monica is a phenomenal owner and shows up to support local businesses in Marin! This Korean lineup wowed the Metta Yoga crowd for recent Summer Solstice Event in Corte Madera Park and The Wiser Me Networking event at The Boomerang Lounge! Love seeing female founders support like-minded communities!! Great news: open for dinner now!!! read more

Chill small cafe with Korean food offerings. I had the bi bim bap with beef; pretty okay rendition as it was overall flavorful with balanced ingredient portions but with the beef being a bit boiled-dry-leathery and the raw crunchy cucumber slices being out of place. Friendly, down-to-earth cashier lady. Food came out pretty quickly. Order at counter and bus own table when finished. read more

SAN korean Cafe - Bi bim bap - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

This place was such a wonderful surprise. Stopped in on a lark since I was in the area with my partner, and turns out it's delicious. I've been disappointed by some of the bi bim bap in the Bay that I've tried recently, but this was delicious. Great selection of beverages. It was super quiet Friday during the lunch hour. Parking was easy and close. Service was warm and friendly. My partner loved his sandwich and leek and potato soup, too. read more

SAN korean Cafe - Bi bim bap - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

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A fantastic, casual lunch spot! The Korean banh mi was packed with flavor, and the complimentary bean sprout side had a wonderful sesame oil taste. Service is super fast, the atmosphere is comfortable, and parking is incredibly easy. Highly recommended! read more

SAN korean Cafe - Korean Bahn Mi Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

Great Korean food in the bay area- while it can't compare to our LA ktown food, we enjoyed a quick Korean food on our trip. It's casual and quick even though made to order. Pricing is a little pricier, but I think it's just the Bay Area cost. We enjoyed the bibimbap and Korean banh mi for the road! read more

Talk about a hidden gem! SAN Korean Cafe is tucked away in the most unexpected location in San Rafael. I'm talking industrial strip mall across the freeway from the San Quentin prison, surrounded by home renovation stores and a gun range. Target and Home Depot are down the street. You definitely won't stumble upon this place, but that's part of what makes it interesting. As one of maybe two Korean restaurants in all of Marin County, SAN could easily coast on lack of competition, but they don't. Having spent considerable time eating my way through Koreatown in LA and various Korean spots around the Bay Area, I can say this place holds its own. The lunch special is an absolute steal, with kimchi-tofu soup, rice, and your choice of three banchan. The soup itself is on the milder side, but it's comforting and hits the spot every time, loaded with veggies and a decent amount of protein. Honestly though, the real star here is the kimbap. They make it fresh by hand, and it's so popular, they consistently run out. (You can choose bulgogi beef or pork.) People clearly drive from who knows where specifically for this. The tea selection is solid, though I was bummed not to see barley tea (my personal favorite). Korean dramas play on the TV, adding to the authentic atmosphere and making you forget you're eating next to a bunch of hardware stores. Fair warning: Parking is extremely limited, so plan accordingly. The staff is friendly enough, but the person at the register can be a bit inattentive. I recommend you double-check your order before you leave. Is it worth a special trip? If you're a Korean food fan and happen to be in Marin, or if you're passing through on your way to the East Bay, try it. The food quality and that freshly made kimbap more than make up for the quirky location and limited parking. This is what a true neighborhood spot looks like. read more

Great Korean tacos and loco moco. Good stop while strolling or biking along the bay. Nice outdoor area. read more

SAN korean Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

Great Korean food! All the different types of kimchi are really good and authentic. The food is fresh and super tasty. I feel so lucky that we have at least one great Korean restaurant in Marin. Try dinner too...it's not just lunch. read more

SAN korean Cafe - Protein bowl - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

Poor service and food safety. I ordered a kim chi soup with chicken i ate a bit, found out they gave me with wrong order with no chicken, then when asked they gave me a side of chicken but it was undercooked. When I asked about it, the cashier insist it was cooked and ignores me and continues to close up. I think food safety and customer service can improve. read more

Stumbled across this little cute restaurant while I was in the area. I love the vibes here in this little store. Very cute and they even sell Korean snacks, drinks, and kimchi inside. The cashier was very nice and patient with me when I was deciding what to order. Their menu has a lot of good options to choose from!! I ordered the sweet&savory kimchi noodle salad and I really enjoyed how refreshing it was. It was a little plain for my liking but that's okie. It doesn't come with meat so if you want to add meat, it's $2 extra. On top of that, I ordered the boba drink (lychee green tea with crystal boba) and I thought it was pretty refreshing too. I will definitely revisit the next time I'm in the area:) read more

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Lovely cashier experience! Worker/owner is friendly and very thorough in making sure items you order are correct. Also, they have a range of sides and drinks on display (teas on display, beverages in fridge) and also Korean snacks to choose from on a shelf. read more

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searching for open cafes crossing the richmond-san rafael bridge and this place popped up. the friendly woman working there said it's been open 3 years but it's the first time i've seen it. shows you how search engines do not find everything worth finding. lots of windows and the space while tiny feels spacious from lots of white that bounces light around. only a few tables so must do more take out business - they have 2 dedicated parking spaces right next to. had the tofu gim bap (tasty) and lilikoi arnold palmer (delish!). would def stop by again next time i cross that bridge. would be a great stop if doing the bike across the bridge! read more

SAN korean Cafe - dedicated parking for quick and easy pick ups! - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

Delicious lunch! The spicy pork and rice bowl with Kimchee is really good. Tasty, nice spices, and good quantity. The Dumplings are good too. The people are super nice, and the place is charming, with easy parking. Highly recommended! read more

SAN korean Cafe - Spicy pork and rice bowl - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

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My go-to for this place is their bibimbap. Simple yet comforting. A small yet lovely place. I believe there is hype about their coffee too so I will endeavor to try that next time. You'll enjoy it. Cheers! read more

SAN korean Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

We were hungry after a round of golf and craving some quick Korean snacks. Boy did we find just the perfect place! Loved their tofu and veggie gimbop, perfectly seasoned with the fragrant sesame oil! Jachae was also yummy and the sauces on the Korean corn dog had the right amount of kick to it. The owner was friendly and the service was efficient. It is sorta hidden, tucked in an unlikely corner by the ocean. The unique and whimsical interior with packaged Korean food and desserts is very inviting. read more

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I love korean food and San Korean Cafe did not disappoint. The bibimbap was fresh, delicious and generously portioned. I also had the dumplings which were baked and had a nice crunch. The sauces are delicious too. What a gem of a place. Highly recommend. I will be back! read more

Outstanding bibimbop! The home made sauce isn't spicy hot, it's more sweet and tangy. Overall well proportioned and offered the expected variety. Staff was nice and food came out expeditiously. Also: easy parking! read more

Enjoyed the spicy pork protein bowl, beef bulgogi bowl, soups, and jap chae. I've only ordered Doordash from here and all the food came delicious. My husband didn't really like the chicken bowl, so it sounds like that was a miss. I've also ordered their banchans and had them as a side dish for lunch. Overall, would continue to order from here again to get my Korean fix in Marin and not need to drive into SF! read more

Worst Korean food ever !!!! Jesus Just go there if you don't have any other option Expensive place low quality Korean food read more

I hadn't been to SAN Korean Cafe for a while, but was a driving by today (Memorial Day afternoon) and saw that it was open. Ordered a Korean Cheesesteak and it was great, better than some cheese steaks I've had in Philadelphia! Very flavorful and filling. Beef was very tender and the sweet pepper and onions created a nice symphony of flavors. Came with a tasty little salad that I thought was noodles, but I think pickled vegetables, really refreshing complement to the steak. In the past I've had their Ban Mi sandwich and it's always very good and fresh. Staff is super friendly and courteous. Apparently, today is the first day SAN Korean Cafe is expanding to be open for Dinner service. Highly recommend! read more

$40 got me spicy pork kimbap and a japchae with chicken and a kombucha.. a little steep not gonna lie The kimbap was skimp on the meat it was barely any spicy pork in that muthafucka, i also thought it was made to order but it was already pre-made and sitting out so the rice was all crusty and stale. It was a good amount of rolls though. The japchae was a good heavy serving but was bland and needed salt, it was aiite. I was expecting higher quality ingredients, If i want my korean fix I'll just stick with my various AYCE kbbq spots cuz this ain't it fam read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch, super yummy Kim bap, Kim chi and matcha/boba. Small seating area and self-service and bussing but a great little stop over on the way back to peninsula area. read more

Shhh! Don't tell anyone! Ok, just a couple people Bright, lovely, lively vibe, Monica (owner) has assembled a menu to satisfy the breakfast crowd that's been around here for a long time plus introduce good Korean food for lunch and take out. I'm Japanese- American learning about Korean food so I'm not an expert at all plus it's been scarce in Marin County- only one older place which recently closed and was just ok. So... coffee drinks, boba (unsweetened alt milks are here- thank you!), pastries, Kimchi burritos for AM. Kim bap, jap chae, bulgogi and much more for lunch. It reminds me of a cafe in SF by a known chef - clean, delicious and authentic but also contemporary. It would suit a vegan /plant based diet. Plus watch a K- drama on the TV in the background. You might get hooked! Nice job Monica! read more

SAN korean Cafe - Compact and active kitchen - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Love this little café. I eat there at least twice a month, the best spicy pork bahn mi. Bordenave bread, perfect pork, pickles and sides.

If you're looking for delicious food and friendly people, look no further; this place is amazing! Don't forget to buy their kimchi - Yum!!!! read more

SAN korean Cafe - Kimchii - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

It's our first time in San Rafael area and we saw this place since we were all craving for hot Korean foods after a two-mile walking in Muir Beach Overlook. The place is small but the foods are good and the price as well. The cashier in front was nice and helped us out with our others. The kitchen staff are fast and efficient since we can see them preparing our orders. Their sandwich with bbq pork inside was so good. We are definitely going back when we do our trail walking again. read more

We had to try this place because it's the closest place to Novato that has Korean corn dogs. It was good to try but not up to what Stix in SF or Seoul Hotdog in Berkeley is. They have one flavor of corn dog and one sauce. The sauce was tasty, but the corn dog was not very exciting. Maybe I'm being too picky, but I expect my Korean corn dog to fried in-house before I get it. This corn dog was heated up in an oven. I also ordered the Korean cheese steak sandwich. The beef had good flavor. It was decent food. For the price, though, I will probably head to SF or the East Bay for Korean food. read more

SAN korean Cafe - Korean BBQ beef cheesesteak sandwich - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Love this place!!! First of all, the owner Monica is super nice and provides awesome service. Second of all, the food is super fresh and flavorful. I am partial to the noodle dishes but everything looks great. The inside is bright and clean. The pricing is very fair, too! read more

I personally miss Korean food so i appreciate this Lady trying to make it happen in Marin. Coming from So Marin- go towards Richmond Bridge and take last exit before bridge - go left under freeway to get on E Francisco road. It will rapidly come up to your Right Hand side. She has a comfortable interior and a sunny outdoor patio for dining. I got mine to go as i was sharing with my daughter. She is the Only Korean Food in Marin! Loved that she had all these sides to choose from. Couldn't decide and she gave me a 3rd for my first time. : Generous, friendly and very clean business- definitely give it a try if you are curious or missing a Korean quick meal! read more

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SAN korean Cafe brings Korean food to the San Rafael area that's worth checking out! The Bay area in general has a lack of good Korean food. Although there have been quite a few notable new entries, any truly great establishments are hard to come by. Thankfully, SAN korean cafe brings a solid array of Korean dishes and Kdrama aesthetics will make me come back for more. Run by Monica Chang whose previous experience and passion for kimchi really comes through. With dishes like bibimbap and japchae, these are Korean classics and the ones I tried were pretty good. Unfortunately, the beef was not ready so we had to sub out for alternatives, but still pretty good! Protein Bowl with Spicy Pork (4/5): The spicy pork definitely brought the heat so that it didn't really require any of the sauce. When mixed in with all the sides, I enjoyed the combination. Filling without feeling too much. Bibimbop with Chicken (4/5): Similar to the protein bowl, it had well flavored meat with well done banchan to mix with the rice. Wished we had beef but still good. Parking was plenty when I went on Saturday afternoon for lunch. The service was also pretty quick. Overall, SAN Korean Cafe is worth checking out especially if you are in San Rafael and want some Korean food. read more

SAN korean Cafe - Protein Bowl with spicy pork - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

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The service was fast. Not many people stay, very comfortable place because it's not crowded. Small but very friendly place. read more

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Finally there's Korean food in Marin!!!! The cafe has been open since November 2022 and it's been a welcoming sight to see in Marin which shockingly has NO Korean restaurants. Owner and chef, Monica Chang started selling her kimchi by the same name (SAN Korean) at selected supermarkets and this is the real deal! It's in a quiet business park right off of 101 near San Quentin with plenty of parking. THE FOOD BEEF BUL go gi rice bowl Just like what you expect from a well season beef. It had a nice combination of steam 3 grain rice with a few ban chan sides. Very flavorful. SPICY PORK rice bowl Wow, again, well seasoned and full of flavor. THE INTERIOR The cafe is small but has areas both inside and outdoor seating. VERY CLEAN SPACE. THE SERVICE You walk up and order at the counter and the food is delivered to your table. They have a variety of Korean Bahn Mi sandwiches, Protein Bowls, House Specials, all day breakfast, Pastries, Boba Tea, Kimchi sold by the jar and Korean ice cream. Definitely check this out and support this small business! Come support this small independent business. read more

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This is a super casual lunch place, really a cafe like place. No waiter service or anything. It serves super fresh and healthy feeling authentic Korean food. It's not going to serve generic Asian food so don't go if you want stir fry, you will get some very specific Korean dishes like bi bim bap. Lots of pickled and fermented veggies. But it all feels super fresh, very little oil or fat, you feel really good after eating it. read more

SAN Korean Café has quickly become one of my favorite spots to visit every week. Their coffee is always on point, and the food is nothing short of delightful. Today, I enjoyed the Bi Bim Bap with steak and egg packed with protein, full of flavor, and it never leaves me feeling weighed down. The cashier was incredibly kind and clearly loves what she does, which makes me want to keep coming back. She even put together a refreshing drink that paired perfectly with my meal. The café is spotless, inviting, and the perfect place to enjoy a nutritious, satisfying, and flavorful meal. read more

SAN korean Cafe - Bi Bim Bap - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

Delicious korean food!Hidden gem here in Marin. Will be coming back to get more off the menus read more

SAN korean Cafe - Bi Bim Bap - Cafes Near Me - San Rafael, California

First time here to pick up a Too Good to Go bag. It had delicious tofu kimbap and 3 sweet pastries. The staff were friendly and sensitive to my food allergies (I give away things I am allergic to from Too Good to Go bags). Looked like a cheerful place to have a casual breakfast, lunch, or snack if running errands in the area. I look forward to trying items from the full menu! read more

Middle of nowhere Korean breakfast cafe and lunch place. Surprisingly good with great Equator brand coffee and fresh ingredients of Korean dishes. Gets pretty crowded upon nearby local businesses and sports team for late breakfast and lunch. Convenient for on the go coffee and lunch grabs. read more

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I can't get enough of the kim bap here! I also love their boba tea selection. My favorite is the lychee flavor. If you're not a boba drinker, check out their espresso offerings made with Equator coffee. Note: their kimchi is the real deal and they sell it by the jar if you want to take some home. Parking is easy and you can sit inside or outside in a patio garden area. The owner Monica is very friendly and accommodating. read more

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Got the noodle salad and it was SO GOOD!!! The flavors all complement each other. The food was also ready in less than 10 minutes. I'll definitely continue coming to this place! Love the vibe of this cafe. read more

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I've been here a few times for bimbap, boba, and pastries. All the food is delicious, and the owner and employees are super friendly. I always forget to take pictures because I eat the food so fast! The location isn't one that you would wander into unless you're looking for it. The place is clean and inviting. I hope they get lots of business. I stop and pick something up whenever I'm in the area. read more